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LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas
FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION
March 21, 2021
TO:
Honorable Bryan Hughes, Chair, Senate Committee on State Affairs
FROM:
Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB1112 by Bettencourt (Relating to signature verification on an early voting ballot voted by mail; creating a criminal offense.), As Introduced
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Election Code to prohibit a county clerk, elections administrator, early voting clerk, or early voting ballot board from suspending the signature verification requirement on an early voting ballot voted by mail. The bill would provide that a violation of this prohibition is a Class A misdemeanor.
This analysis assumes that any costs associated with the bill could be absorbed using existing resources and that the provisions of the bill addressing sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.
Local Government Impact
According to Texas Association of Counties, no significant fiscal implication to counties is anticipated.
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by a fine of not more than $4,000, confinement in jail for a term not to exceed one year, or both. Costs associated with enforcement, prosecution and confinement could likely be absorbed within existing resources. Revenue gain from fines imposed and collected is not anticipated to have a significant fiscal implication.